Apparatus for sizing and coloring fabrics



(No Model.)

MQPREE. I APPARATUS FORSIZING AND COLORING FABRICS. No. 267,869 Patented Nov. 21, 1882.

mcz w 2am? 'u. FEKEHS. mm-mu my. Washing hm. 11c.

UNITE STATES 'ATAENT OFFICE.

MARTIN FREE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR SIZING AND COL ORING FABRICS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent- No. 267,869, dated November 21, 1882. Application filed April 15, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, lVIARTIN FREE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Apparatus for Sizing and Coloring Fabrics, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in that class of apparatus in which the fabric is first sized and then stretched and allowed to dry while stretched, the objects of my invention being to render the apparatus compact and readily handled, to prevent the falling of the lower bar when the fabric is detached therefrom, and to permit the removal from the bars of accumulations of glue or cement without injuring said bars.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse section of apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a side view, partly in section, and Fig. 3 an enlarged section of part of one of the stretching-bars.

The permanent frame of the apparatus comprises vertical posts A, upper longitudinal rails, B B, lower longitudinal rails, D D, and transverse braces E E, or, if desired, the rails B and D may extend across a room from wall to wall.

. To the upper rails, B, are adapted frames F, which have rollers a above the rail, and pulleys b beneath the same, ropes or cords d being combined with these pulleys and with other pulleys, e, on the upper stretching-bars, G, to form tackle whereby the said upper bars can be elevated when desired.

The lower stretching-bars, H, are carried by frames J, which are adapted to the lower rails, D, each frame having in'the present instance two rollers, ff, the lower one of which bears on the lower edge of the rail when the frame is elevated, the upper roller bearing upon the upper edge of the rail when the frame is not supported from above.

In using the above-described apparatus the opposite edges of a strip of muslin or other fabric, a, which is to be sized are attached in the manner described hereinafter to the upper and lower stretching-bars, G and H, the latter being then in the position shown at 1, Fig. 2. 'When the edges of the strip have become firmly fastened the sizing-liquid is applied to the strip, and the stretching-tackle is then operated so as to elevate the upper bar, G, and impart tension to the strip, as shown at 2, free access being bad to both sides of said strip during the sizing operation. When the fabric has been thus sized and stretched the frames carrying the bars G H are moved along toward one end of the rails B and D, the frames accumulating as strip after strip is sized, but very little space being occupied, as the frames can be moved as closely together as desired without interfering with the proper drying of the strips of fabric. When the fabric is thoroughly dry the bars can be moved back one by one to the position 1, and the coloring material may be applied thereto as usual, the.

bars being then moved along successively to the opposite end of the rails B and D, and after the fabric again becomes dry it can be detached from the stretching-bars. My invention thus overcomes a serious objection to that class of apparatus in which the stretchingbars cannot be moved to and fro after the fabric is stretched, for in such apparatus the bars must be arranged so far apart that the attendants can move about between them, and a large amount of space is thus necessarily wasted.

Usually the opposite edges of the sheet a: of

fabric are secured by glue or other cement directly to the faces of the bars G and H, and after a time the glue and strips of fabric accumulate on the bars to such an extent that they must be chipped off, an operation which frequently results in the mutilation of the bar, and thus serves to materially impair its usefulness. I overcome this objection by providing each bar with a strip, in, which is secured to the bar by screws or nails, and is preferably beveled, as shown in Fig. 3. The edges of the sheet of fabric aresecured to this strip, and when the accumulations upon the strip become objectionable said strip can be detached from the bar and cleaned, the preferable mode of cleaning being to subject the strip to the action of steam or hot water, whereby the glue is softened so as to permit the ready removal of the accumulations from the strip.

By combining stretching-tackle with the up per bar, G, I am enabled to save considerable time and labor in applying the fabric to the 2 eemsea bars, as the upper bar can be lowered to a convenient position for attaching the upper edge of the fabric thereto, and can then be readily raised so as to bring the lower edge of the fabric in line with the lower bar I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of the upper and lower rails, B D, with the upper and lower stretching-bars, G H carried by frames adapted to said upper and lower rails, as set forth.

2. The combination of upper and lower stretching-bars of a sizing apparatus with stretching-tackle connected to the upper bar all substantially as specified.

3. The combination of the upper and lower rails, 13 D, the frames F, adapted to the upper rails, the upper stretching-bar, G, the stretch ing-tackle connecting the frames F and bar G, and the lower bar, 11, carried by frames J, adapted to the lower rails, as set forth.

4. The bars G and H of the stretchingframe, provided with detachable strips on m, which are fastened directly upon said bars and adapted to secure the fabric upon their outer surfaces, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARTIN FEE E.

Witnesses HARRY DRURY, HARRY SMrri-r. 

